The BulleTin • Monday, June 14, 2021 A3
DEAR ABBY
LOCAL, STATE & NATION
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: I can’t stand
being around my dad. I love
my mom, but no longer re-
spect her because she stays
married to him. He’s a nar-
cissistic bully. My brother
agrees. My parents and I live
in the same town and get to-
gether for holidays, birthdays
and other events. My brother
lives out of state.
I grew up with Playboy
magazines lying around the
house, watching my father
ogle women and comment
on their bodies, including
mine. He shamed us con-
stantly in front of others and
thought it was funny. When
I finally found my voice, he
called me a b****. He isn’t
supportive and never hesi-
tates to tell me how I’m doing
something wrong. He yells at
my dogs and my kids for be-
ing dogs/kids.
I would love to not see him
again, but he’s my dad, and
my mom loves him. I don’t
want to buy him gifts or cards
on his special days because
it’s insincere, but I find myself
doing it anyway. How do I
handle this and reconcile the
conflict I know will ensue if I
make myself happy?
— Struggling in Nevada
days, make it a generic card
so you will feel less like a
hypocrite. You deserve to be
happy, and if you follow my
advice, I predict your chil-
dren will be happier, too.
Dear Abby: I lost my hus-
band to COVID-19 five
months ago. We were mar-
ried for 40 years. I loved him
with all my heart and always
will. I met someone through
a dating site who lost his wife
to cancer a year ago. They
were married 37 years and,
like me, he loved her dearly.
We each have grown chil-
dren. My daughter knows
about him, but he hasn’t told
his children. We live three
hours apart, and while doing
work for his son, he drove an
hour and a half to meet me
and have lunch. I thought
that was so nice. We really
seemed to hit it off and want
to be together.
Although I’m a grown
woman and know what I
want, I need to know if you
think it is appropriate for me
to consider being with this
man and possibly moving
in with him after only five
months since my husband’s
death. Your answer will help
with my decision.
Dear Struggling: Some-
times strategic withdrawal
is better than an argument.
Stop exposing your children
and your pets to your abu-
sive, hypercritical father’s
rants, and if your mother no-
tices and asks why, be honest
with her. See her separately
if you wish, but avoid your
father whenever possible.
If you must see him and he
starts acting up, leave. If you
feel you have to gift him
“something” on his special
Dear Lonely Lady: Al-
though this man may have
“possibilities,” he still isn’t
comfortable enough in the re-
lationship to introduce you to
his children. And nowhere in
your letter did you mention
that he has talked about the
idea of you moving in with
him. I think you are jump-
ing the gun right now, and
although it isn’t too soon to
consider the possibilities, I do
not think you should push.
— Lonely Lady in North Carolina
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Georgia Nicols
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC | POSITIVE | AVERAGE | SO-SO | DIFFICULT
MOON ALERT: There are no restrictions to shopping or important deci-
sions today. The Moon is in Leo.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021: You are
multitalented, creative and versatile. You are also impulsive! You love an
adventure and socializing with others. In a nine-year cycle, you are in a seven
year. This is a time of learning as well as teaching. Your spiritual side will be
deepened and enhanced this year. You might have more interest in the tarot,
astrology or numerology.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Batten down the hatches! Today is full of unpredictable events. Social
occasions might be cancelled or changed. Sports accidents are possible. Par-
ents should be extra vigilant to avoid accidents with their kids. A relationship
with someone older might change or end. Tonight: Enjoy discussions with
kids.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Today is full of disruptions, which means you have to be prepared. For
starters, a dispute with a family member might happen. Small appliances
might break down. A breakage at home could occur. Sudden news that af-
fects a parent, boss or your career might surprise you. Tonight: Family repairs.
Deep-red Idaho sees growing
clash between GOP and far right
BY KEITH RIDLER
Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho — The dream
world for Idaho’s ascendant
far right is one where state
lawmakers run a sovereign
nation-state free of federal
oversight. It would be a place
where they can outlaw all abor-
tions, dictate what is taught in
schools, have complete say over
public health rules and gun
laws, and take control of federal
public lands, which make up
more than 60% of the state.
And many believe they’ve
never been closer to achieving
their goals in what is already
one of the most conservative
states in the country.
Mainstream Idaho Repub-
licans, who have dominated
the state for three decades and
would be considered far right
in many states, have themselves
become targets, including pro-
tests at lawmakers’ homes. They
fear disinformation and intimi-
dation is driving the changes in
the rural Western state.
“It’s definitely conservatives
who are battling against the
farther right,” said Jaclyn Ket-
tler, a Boise State University
political scientist. “Mainstream
traditional Republicans who
have a preference for smaller
government” and right-wing
Republicans who question
“whether government should
even be involved.”
Some half-dozen recently
formed right-wing groups, in-
cluding antigovernment activ-
ist Ammon Bundy’s People’s
Rights, have used coronavirus
restrictions as recruiting tools,
organizing angry mask-burn-
ing protests in a push to dis-
rupt institutional norms ahead
of statewide elections next year.
Other Republicans, including a
former Idaho attorney general,
have established groups to op-
pose them.
The atmosphere is so
charged that lawmakers ap-
proved extra spending to
bring more Idaho State Police
troopers to the 100-year-old
Statehouse — even when the
Legislature isn’t in session. A
doorway pane shattered last
year when Bundy and oth-
ers pushed their way into the
House gallery that had limited
seating due to the pandemic.
The schism also played out
dramatically late last month
when far-right Republican Lt.
Keith Ridler/AP file
Ammon Bundy, center, who led the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
occupation in Oregon, stands on the Idaho Statehouse steps in Boise in
August. Mainstream and far-right Republicans are battling for control
of the party and the state in deeply conservative Idaho.
Gov. Janice McGeachin issued
an executive order during a
short stint as acting governor
while Republican Gov. Brad
Little was out of the state. She
ordered a statewide ban on
mask mandates, which were
already in place in some cities
and counties, without consult-
ing them or Little.
Her action came about a
week after she announced her
run to unseat Little in 2022. She
and Little were each elected in
2018. In Idaho, the governor
and lieutenant governor don’t
run on a combined ticket.
The next day Little, who has
never issued a statewide mask
mandate, repealed McGeach-
in’s order. The typically reserved
first-term governor called Mc-
Geachin’s action an “irresponsi-
ble, self-serving political stunt.”
Little touts his own conser-
vative credentials by saying he’s
made Idaho the least regulated
state following a pruning of ad-
ministrative rules after he took
office.
Bundy, who is best known
for leading an armed standoff
at the Malheur National Wild-
life Refuge outside Burns five
years ago, has also filed paper-
work in a long-shot run for
governor.
Another far-right Republi-
can, Rep. Priscilla Giddings, is
looking to replace McGeachin
as lieutenant governor.
Democratic lawmakers are
too few to have much say in
state government. They have
not held the governor’s of-
fice since 1995 or statewide
elected office since 2007. Only
12 of the 70 House members
are Democrats, and Senate
Democrats hold only seven of
35 seats. Democrats lost two
House seats in the 2020 elec-
tion. Far-right Republicans
picked up two seats by unseat-
ing moderate Republicans in
the primary. Several open seats
were filled by Republicans con-
sidered more conservative than
their Republican predecessors.
The main victories for Dem-
ocratic lawmakers are sup-
plying enough votes to pass
legislation often opposed by
far-right legislators, including
must-pass appropriations bills.
Among those earlier this year
was the $3.7 billion Medicaid
budget that cleared the House
36-34. Idaho Public Television’s
$9.5 million budget, a peren-
nial target of the far right, also
squeaked through 36-34.
“That flank has never re-
ally had to come to terms with
the fallout of the policies they
have proposed,” said Demo-
cratic House Minority Leader
Ilana Rubel. “If that wing keeps
strengthening, people may ex-
perience a stark wakeup call of
losing the vital services that ev-
eryone depends on.”
McGeachin and other ul-
tra-conservative lawmakers
have a stated desire to end fed-
eral money coming to Idaho,
part of a far-right belief involv-
ing state sovereignty.
“Defending our state means
making difficult decisions
when the federal government
tries to bribe us into compli-
ance,” she said in announc-
ing her run for governor last
month, citing Medicaid in par-
ticular. “It means rejecting ad-
ditional federal money when
accepting it would mean we
lose the right to manage our
own Medicaid programs.”
Idaho’s $3.7 billion Medic-
aid budget includes $2.5 billion
from the federal government.
A far-right lawmaker in the
governor’s office could veto nar-
rowly passed appropriations
bills that include federal money.
Idaho’s 2022 budget is more
than $11.3 billion, with more
than $5 billion of that coming
from the federal government.
Federal money helps pay for
schools, health care and roads.
Bills that far-right lawmak-
ers were instrumental in killing
this year included $40 million
in federal money for coronavi-
rus testing in schools and an-
other $6 million in early child-
hood learning. Republican
lawmakers also made a puni-
tive $2.5 million cut to colleges
and universities, citing the
teaching of critical race theory,
which seeks to highlight how
historical inequities and racism
continue to shape public policy
and social conditions today.
Jim Jones, a former attor-
ney general who also served as
chief justice of Idaho’s Supreme
Court, founded the Commit-
tee to Protect and Preserve the
Idaho Constitution in response
to the recent political winds.
It’s one of two groups that
filed a lawsuit alleging a new
law makes it impossible to get
voter initiatives on the bal-
lot and is unconstitutional.
Republican lawmakers have
been seeking to make the vot-
er-backed initiative process
more difficult following one
several years ago that led to
Medicaid expansion.
Jones said very conservative
Republicans are focused on cul-
ture wars, “trying to pick a fight
with people on practically any
issue that came down the pike.”
Jones said he now consid-
ers himself an independent,
but registers as a Republican to
vote in the party’s primary that
was closed to outsiders in 2011.
“I think the closed primary
is the stupidest thing we’ve
done because it helped to turn
the Republican Party into a
far-right ideological animal,”
he said.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Be careful! This is an accident-prone day for your sign, so pay attention
to everything you say and do. Think before you speak or act. On the upside,
because you can think outside of the box, you might have clever ideas. How-
ever, authority figures might squelch whatever you offer. Tonight: Talkative!
Justices consider Harvard case on race in admissions
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
Associated Press
Keep an eye on your money, your possessions and anything to do with
your wealth and assets, because this is an unpredictable day. You might lose
money. Something you own might be damaged or lost. The government
or a partner might make things difficult for you. Tonight: (Time for dark
chocolate.)
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
Even if you hide under the covers, this will be a disruptive day for you.
“Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!” Relations with authority figures
and parents are dicey. Arguments with partners and close friends might
take place. This is also an accident-prone day, so be careful. Tonight: Youthful
conversations.
With abortion and guns already on the
agenda, the conservative-dominated U.S.
Supreme Court is considering adding a
third blockbuster issue — whether to ban
consideration of race in college admissions.
The justices could say as soon as Monday
whether they will hear an appeal claiming
that Harvard discriminates against Asian
American applicants, in a case that could
have nationwide repercussions. The case
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Your peace of mind might be disrupted today because something is
going on behind the scenes that you did not anticipate. Change is in the air. It
could make you restless. However, you also might encounter opposition with
a boss or rules and regulations. Tonight: Talk to a parent or boss.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Something unexpected might impact your friendship with someone or
your interaction with a member of a group. A relationship might even be sev-
ered. Quarrels about funding, shared responsibilities and dealings with kids
and creative projects are all possible. Tonight: Talk to someone new.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Be careful, because this is a day full of interruptions and unexpected
events. Relations with parents and bosses could be confrontational. Family
discord is likely. Possibly, something unexpected will completely change
your plans today. Tonight: Be alert.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Be careful, because this is an accident-prone day, so pay attention to
everything you say and do. Travel plans will change or be cancelled. Likewise,
something might affect college and university schedules. An authority figure
might tell you why you can’t do something. Tonight: Friendly chat.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
This is a challenging day, especially to finances, shared property, taxes,
debt, mortgages and investment holdings. Parents take note that this is also
an accident-prone day for your kids, so be vigilant. Social plans will be can-
celled or changed. Tonight: Double-check all details.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
You might find yourself at odds with partners and close friends today be-
cause of a family argument or a sudden change at home. People are inclined
to be overreactive and see the worst in everything today. Keep your spirits up
and your wits about you. (Don’t leave home without them.) Tonight: Enjoy
chitchat.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
This is an accident-prone day for your sign, so keep your eyes open and
slow down. Be aware of everything happening around you whether walking,
jogging, cycling or driving. Likewise, think before you speak so you don’t
have later regrets. Tonight: Home repairs.
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Friday, June 18
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Look for the neon yellow signs.
would not be argued until the fall or winter.
“It would be a big deal because of the
nature of college admissions across the
country and because of the stakes of hav-
ing this issue before the Supreme Court,”
said Gregory Garre, who twice defended
the University of Texas’ admissions pro-
gram before the justices.
The presence of three appointees of
former President Donald Trump could
prompt the court to take up the case, even
though it’s only been five years since its last
decision in a case about affirmative action
in higher education.
The Supreme Court has weighed in on
college admissions several times over more
than 40 years. The current dispute harks
back to its first big affirmative action case
in 1978, when Justice Lewis Powell set out
the rationale for taking account of race
even as the court barred the use of racial
quotas in admissions.